Founder stories
$1K MRRen 1 month
Acquired
Pre-acquisition revenue: $400K ARR
Acquired by Zapier March 2021 for undisclosed amount. Pre-acquisition ARR ~$400K. Ben Tossell continued running Makerpad within Zapier.
From Product Hunt employee to building and selling Makerpad
Founder
Ben Tossell
Fundador en Solitario•No técnico•USA
Dedicación
Tiempo completoExperiencia
Con experienciaProducto
Learn to build software without code. Tutorials and community for no-code builders.
Tipo
Producto de InformaciónIndustria
Herramientas para DesarrolladoresModelo
Pago ÚnicoEstrategia de marketing
Cómo Ben consiguió clientes
Canal de crecimiento
Twitter / X
También usado
ComunidadesProduct Hunt
Tech Stack
Herramientas usadas para construir Makerpad
WebflowMemberstackAirtableZapier
La historia completa
After leaving Product Hunt, I wanted to teach people how to build without code - the skills I had learned myself.
The Launch
I launched Makerpad in January 2019 with a simple membership model. $99/year for access to tutorials on building with no-code tools like Zapier, Airtable, and Webflow.
Quick Traction
Within 30 days, I hit $1K MRR. The no-code movement was growing, and I was one of the first to create structured education around it. Building in public on Twitter helped drive early signups.
The Exit
In 2020, Zapier acquired Makerpad. The whole journey from launch to exit was less than 2 years.
- Launch to $1K MRR: 30 days
- Launch to acquisition: ~18 months
- Exit to Zapier: 2020
Conclusiones clave
1
Being early to a trend can accelerate everything
2
Non-technical founders can build successful education businesses
3
Building in public creates accountability and customers
4
Community + content is a powerful combination
Publicado originalmente enIndie Hackers
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Frequently asked questions
Who acquired Makerpad?
Makerpad was acquired by Zapier for an undisclosed price on March 2021. Pre-acquisition revenue was $400K ARR. Acquired by Zapier March 2021 for undisclosed amount. Pre-acquisition ARR ~$400K. Ben Tossell continued running Makerpad within Zapier.
How long did it take Makerpad to reach $1k mrr?
Ben Tossell took 1 month to reach $1k mrr with Makerpad.
Was Ben Tossell a solo founder?
Yes. Ben Tossell built Makerpad as a solo founder.
What marketing channel did Makerpad use to grow?
Makerpad grew primarily through Twitter / X.
What industry is Makerpad in?
Makerpad operates in Herramientas para Desarrolladores.
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